Community ecology of the terrestrial small mammals of Zakouma National Park, Chad

Abstract

The terrestrial small mammal community of the Zakouma National Park (Chad) was assessed by live trapping in various habitats during the dry season. Nearly 3000 trap-nights yielded 505 captures of nine rodent and two shrew species, making up a representative small mammal community for the Sudanian savanna biotic zone. Murine rodents of the genus Mastomys dominated, with M. erythroleucus and M. cf. kollmannspergeri occuring at similar abundances. The former was widespread and especially abundant in habitats with high tree cover. The latter was more localized, predominantly in annually flooded habitats characterized by a clay-rich soil, often with Acacia seyal as the main vegetation. Population structure differed between the two species, suggesting distinct reproductive strategies possibly linked with habitat preferences: the M. erythroleucus population comprised mainly young, immature individuals, whereas M. cf. kollmannspergeri was represented by older individuals, a significant fraction of which had already reproduced. Taterillus congicus and Tatera kempi (gerbilline rodents), together with Lemniscomys zebra, were mainly found in more open habitats with sand-rich soils. Arvicanthis niloticus, Acomys cf. johannis, Mus mattheyi and Xerus erythropus were the other rodents captured, whereas shrews were represented by Crocidura fulvastra and Suncus sp.